Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-09
AN OBSERVER IN SOUTHERN CALI
F0RNIA.

FORNIA.
Elsewhere we publish a statement given
a San Francisco contemporary by Mr.. VIM.
II. Mills, Land Agent for the Central Pa
ciic Railroad Company, of his observa-
tions in Southern California, during
Il few weeks visit to that favored
section. 1t will be read with I'M
common interest, for it will be conceded
that the observer named possesses UNI
equalled facilities for forming a correct
judgment concerning land values and the
bases for them, the development of the
different sections of the State and the
character of the incoming immigration,
while the attitude he maintains toward all
sections is, by reason of his employment
and the training inseparable from it, judi
cial in character.
1t will be noted that the central
thoughts of the statement are-the immi
cation to Southern California is that of
tull financial capacity; its motive is not the
tilling of the soil or productive industry,
but the qualification of the tastes and the
conservation of personal ease. As result,
the new homes are those of comfort, from
the outset, with very little attaching to
them characteristic of settlements in new
country as yet unconquered to agriculture.
Such speculative values as exist do not,
therefore. relate to productive capacity for
gain, but rather to the production that
adorns and gives to the home a suburban
character. Such settlement, therefore, rep
resents culture, refinement and popula-
ton seeking restfrlness as the well-earned
reward of life spent in rigorous climates,
where the contest with nature has been
fought out and won.
The value of these observations are self
evident, and lead to deductions that are
exceedingly gratifying to the people of all
the great valley and foothill region of lat
itudes somewhat more northerly, but
which isothermally bear a striking resem-
blance to the Los Angeles region. What
are these deductions? That the immigra-
ton referred to is as Of great benefit to the
north as to the south, with this gualifca-
ton, that the effects Of it have not yet
been much felt here, though distinctly APP
preciated. That rs the great producing heart.
of California is in her central and north
ern valleys and contiguous foothills we
will feel the influence of new consumption
for our staple products, and thus be stimu
lated to augment them. Finally, that as
the physical fact is, that all the Central
and northern valley regions possess eli
matte advantages of like character with
those of Southern California, with the adj
dition of agricultural capacity far greater
than that with which the south is favored,
we must in due time receive the great
aiter-swell Of immigration which has for
its motive power productive industry.
As between the two classes of immigra-
ton for the building Of State there can
be no hesitation in choosing, but it is
obvious that with either the other must
come to us. The climatic advantages Of
Central and Northern California being
equal TO those of the south, and supple
mented by unsurpaSsed-not to say I'M
equaled- of soil, broad expanse
of territory, established commerce, GER
tainty of rainfall and natural attractive
ness Of scenery, it is apparent that though
delayed, the incoming of the tide of in
dustrial and moneyed immigration will
not be long postponed. We shall have, as
certainly as natural forces in the aggregate
are irresistible, both classes of immigrs-
ton, and one of which alone has given
Southern California such a marvellous i'm
petus and has determined its prosperous
present and its future progression.
We can entertain no Jealousy of our
brethren of the South. The small-minded
and rural journalism that bounds its com
prehension of force by vituperation and
misrepresentation, BELTS only the back
alleys of civilization. In the achieve
ments of the people of the south, we see
but the march of the State to the goal of
Its highest ambition. In her prosperity
we find the type of what our own is to be,
but which, as certainly as tides Aow and
retreat, viii surpass that of the south just
in proportion as our resources are more
varied, the capacity of our soil greater,
and the area of our territory broader.